My Blog has been chosen for Entertainment, News & Media, Sports Blogs, Marketing and Advertising and Personal Category at the BlogJunta – best of the blogosphere (BoIB2010) awards. All of you who feel that my blog is worth a win, please do vote for me at BlogJunta’s Facebook page. Following are the links of Categories where my blog has been shortlisted.
This one is an interesting photoshop edit that I had come across today. Directly aimed at the frustration of Indian consumers, the Onions are bringing tears to every one without peeling off even a single layer of its charmed skin.
Onions are made for ever – This came as a Mail Forward
The humble King Onion has become a strong political pot-boiler of late thanks to its price of over Rs. 70 per Kilogram. Now this image classically displays that how costly the Onions have become. Onions are a must for more than 80% of dishes in India and Indians simply just need Onions with their Food. The last time I remember Onions reaching this price levels were in 1998. You have to believe that, many a times the poor often only have Chapati, Onions with salt as Lunch and Dinner. Hence, price of Onions matter to Indians so much more.
The news came in that Petrol prices are also going northwards, with Rs. 2.53 increase in petrol prices per litre by mid night of 16th January. This will surely add a lot up to the pressure a common man is going through.
Onions, on the other hand can be very bad for health. As “Keep Write” writes, Onions can be hazardous too and many a times can even cause Food Poisoning. A recommended read.
The Coffee retail gaint Starbucks is now coming to Indian shores with in next seven months. This is a news for many who flock to the coffee joints like CCD and Barista for two sips of coffee. So now we have the best brand representing coffee in India. The “tea loving” Indians have been turning to Coffee as more youth preferring Coffee to Tea. Consumption of Coffee in India has more than doubled for past decade.
Starbucks have also signed an agreement with Tata Coffee to source beans and explore opening stores, the companies said in a statement yesterday. The first Starbucks store in India will open in about seven months as said by the company management on a leading Business Television network. The stock of Tata Coffee has hit a had its biggest Intraday gain in last 17 months.
The company that put middle class Indians on wheels is now set to be separated. After 24 year long spell of this ambitious joint-venture between Hero Group and the motorcycling giant Honda, they have decided to go their own ways finally. However they have singed a new License agreement till 2014, starting January 2011. Hero Group will buy Honda’s 26% stake in Hero Honda.
Hero has been bailing themselves out for a long time now, after it renewed its venture with Honda in 2006. However, this time around Hero will have the brand name changed over the time and will pay royalty to Honda till the time they are using its brand name attached to their motorcycles. Hero can use Hero Honda branding until June 2014 on the condition that the brand will be dropped if any changes are made into the vehicles. Market sources’ speculation that the royalty will be higher than it was at present has been thrashed by CEO Pawan Munjal in its press meet today. The royalty will be at 4.3% of Sales and the company is free to export products in new markets. (more…)
I liked this ad so much. The new Airtel ad where the boy or the girl tells goodbye to each other but keep meeting each other within a fraction of a second. What I really like about this is to show the importance of relationships that are hard to part with. If there are any fans of this ad, post a comment on how you feel about this ad. Two television commercials are created by the agency JWT, the brand’s creative partner, are currently on-air. (more…)
Bharti Airtel, India’s leading telcom provider has changed its Logo and the Signature tune following its intention to launch 3G services in India. Airtel won 3G licences in 13 telecom circles of India: Delhi, Mumbai, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh (West), Rajasthan, West Bengal, Himachal Pradesh, Bihar, Assam, North East, Jammu & Kashmir. Bharti is expecting to launch its 3G service by December 2010
New Logo of Airtel v/s Old Logo
Coupled with the re-branding of Zain’s assets in Africa, Bharti Airtel will also re-brand in Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, with no clarity of how it will re-brand its operations in Channel Islands where it is known as Airtel – Vodafone. The Branding in Channel Islands is largely following the Vodafone ideology and hence, only a Logo Change is expected. (more…)
Yesterday as I was walking in Vashi on the way to meet a friend. While on the way I saw this wooden machine that extracts sugarcane juice. Obviously surprised, since it is something I have never seen before. This device is manually operated, with more than 95% of the motor made of wood.
As I was walking through the by-lanes to go somewhere, I saw them. It was a boon for me on a hot and humid day, with no other shops in the area to quench my thirst. I had one glass of the juice, and I should tell you that it was the best Sugarcane juice I had ever had in Mumbai.
Best sugarcane juice, ever!
The centerpiece crushes the canes in-between and extracts the sweet nectar when the axle is rotated. In fact, this is a complete retro way of making the sugarcane juice, with the machine hosted on a wooden cart, with wheels to boot!
The sugarcane juice is available with ice as well, however I would not recommend it. The ice used by many such shops and stalls or moving machines like these is not made of purified water. It also ruins the original taste. You would not add ice to a glass on wine, would you?
The couple who operates the wooden sugarcane juice machine
You will often only find Sugarcane Juice stalls operating the cane crushing jaws using an electric motor. In the place where I live, there are around seven of them as I remember and I had been at each of these shops.
All these stores use the latest crushers which are an operated by electric motors. They also add a small bell around the cylinders, traditionally tied around the neck of the bull (the workhorse). Every time you hear the bell ringing, you know a sugarcane juice stall is around the corner.
Hence, to find a new, but old way of extracting the juice was refreshing to see and experience. Of course, the vintage appeal should increment the whole feeling, and it does. The taste is something that will remember for years to come!
Reliving memories
I was able to relate the taste of my childhood days going to ‘Aaraatu,’ a traditional mela in my hometown Alleppey, in December every year. As kids, we all used to flock there and buy popcorn and black sugar canes and eat it rather than drinking the juice, a luxury in those days.
The chunks were cut painstakingly by my father once we are back home. It was a celebration as a kid, and every year I used to look forward to visiting the mela. How exciting isn’t it? The humble sugarcane juice can remind you of happiest of your memories from the past!
The family tradition
I interacted with the husband-wife who operated this wonder engine. The couple is from Allahabad, and wooden Sugarcane juice machines are still prevalent in those areas. It is a tedious job, and they love doing it. It is tiresome because the couple has done all the pushing.
The machine in their hometowns operates with the help of bulls. These bulls walk around, with bells around their neck making them ring. They work the lever, which helps crushes the canes to extract the juices between two cylinders.
The husband says it is their family tradition, and that they would try to do as long as they can. He does not think the future generation will keep the tradition alive. Are the days gone when something advanced makes you love the tradition even more?
Kudos to the couple, who are doing their best to bring the tradition to the cities like ours.
Update: You can see such machines in Maharastra as well, specifically Devlali, Nashik, and around Shirdi.
The exotic taste of Sugar cane
Sugarcane Juice Machine, completely made of wood except for nails and bearings extracts the sweetest juice I have ever tasted.
For Rs. 7 a glass, this was undoubtedly the best Sugar Cane Juice I have ever had. It may be the wood, or the cane itself; I may never know. One thing is for sure, some of the best tasteful experiences I have enjoyed in a long time are the ones made traditionally. The modern advancement does not provide the same essence to the food or the juice in this case, like the old one.
Add to it, the exclusivity of rarely seeing the wooden Sugarcane juice machine is the most redefining luxury moment for me. Something that even my parents have not experienced, given how old this process and the tool has been!
Kudos to the couple, who are doing their best to bring the tradition to the cities like ours.
Edit: Updated the article to reflect improved grammar, post framing and of course, the full resolution pictures.
Everyone is so happy with the bull run now that the benchmark index has touch the magic figure of 19,000. Having such a run fills up the euphoria among investors who would willingly put more and more money in the markets at this point.
Whats more important to note is that markets are at the peak now and there is no fixed high or low. If you have tanked profits today and enough to your expectations, this is the right time to exit.
A correction is overdue sometime soon however wont be a big fall. A lot of good news in the market will surely come but this rally is driven by the liquidity in the market. That means a lot of people are having some money to be used and they are using it now. The stocks will be pushed up further for a few days, some even touching 52 weeks high but be cautious.
Don’t start investments in the market now. Even buying MFs at this point of time is senseless. In two words, if you are new to market: STAY AWAY.
I wish all my readers a very Happy Independence day.
Here are some of my Independence day cards.
Happy Independence Day – BirdieHappy Independence Day – Child on a BikeHappy Independence Day – Tri-ColorHappy Independence Day – Tri ColorHappy Independence Day – We the peopleHappy Independence Day – Victorious
It was reported that Mahindra is all set to buy the troubled South Korean automaker Ssangyong Motor Company. In the process, they beat 5 other bidders including Renault and Ruia Group of India.
This comes as a major acquisition since it is for sure going to fuel the growth of Mahindra in global markets where the company is trying hard to make its presence felt. What would be exiting enough for Indian markets would be the cars and the technology that Ssangyong brings in and how Mahindra are able to incorporate the same under their portfolio. Given that they already have technologically advanced with Mirco Hybrids and now Reva’s Electric technology, they are the hidden tigers at present who are all set to prowl in a year or two with brilliant products.
Ssangyong is good products in the SUV area though it only has a 2% overall market share in Korean market. This is where M&M finds solace with Ssangyong. The design language too can be an inspiration for future M&M cars. Its high time we saw a new Scorpio. Common guys, give us something more awe-inspiring stuff. (more…)
I had read in the Mumbai Mirror about this initiative called Meter Jam.
Because strikes need a strike back! We’re tired of meter that always reads more than it should, drivers who refuse to ply and demand return fare whenever they want. And if all that wasn’t enough, now we have to deal with strikes too, any time the ‘unions’ decide!
Everyone is holding the janta to ransom. How much more will we pay? It’s time to turn the tables.
So on 12th August, shake your head and say NO if an auto driver offers a ride!
Meter JamMeter Jam
Very true to the core, this initiative is much appreciated for all the trouble we face in our day to day lives. Everyday I have to travel by rick and each day, I get a different meter reading. On an average, I have to pay Rs. 40 for one way travel but at times, the meter reading exceeds it and I end up paying Rs. 75!!
When I question it, he directly shows the meter and there is no way I can protest. The police too are hand in glove and others of the same fraternity rush to rescue. With this, you hardly have a voice to speak up to. While I go back, I have to ask atleast 10 to 12 Rickshaws to know if they can take me or not.
According to rules, they have no option to say no to any distance which is permissible according to RTO regulations. There are a lot of cases where Auto / Cab drivers are come up with innovative ideas of avoiding ferrying passengers.
There is a sect who are also on the softer side, who asks us to think why would a Auto Rickshaw driver earning in ’10s would not ferry any passenger. Well, to all of those who think this way, come to my place and try to hire a rick.
However today I saw a lot of people ferrying ricks, a lot of professionals doing the same. Its not because they don’t care, its because they don’t have an option.
For example, for me to get into a BEST bus from Kanjurmarg is next to impossible. I see a lot of people standing on the foot board and traveling since there is no way to get in. The buses are jam packed already. What Meter Jam should also have promoted it as a protest against the government utilities too, and not only against the Rickshaw walahs and Cab walahs. This way we could spread the message that we need better transport alternatives than facing these rowdy rickshaw walahs and cab walahs.
I hope more protestants join the force and get along with this initiative.
I came across this title in today’s DNA Money. Certainly interesting, because it says a lot about how negatively positive comment that is… DNA quoted Morgan Witzel as saying this.
Morgan Witzel is the author of the book Tata – The Evolution of a Corporate Brand.
We all know what the Brand Tata stands for all of us. Trust and Reliability. The author explores the Tata brand evolution and to what is today. It would be an interesting read if you are a Tata loyalist.
Some of the striking facts too are revealed, including the usage and application of Brand. I am looking forward to read his book, soon may be and will pick it up from a Tata store (Landmark) too 😉
The reason why I am posting it here is because of my keen interest in Tata group and its ideologies. If you are a regular at my blog, you will have already noticed that, and not to mention the posts that I have made on Nano…
Addition: You can promote this post on IndiBlogger.in‘s IndiVine
The IndiBlogger meet is finally happening in Mumbai. Its been ages since I had proposed this meet to Renie but due to some reasons it never saw the light of the day. But now we have!
The IndiBlogger meet is for bloggers who are part of IndiBlogger, or otherwise to come together and collaborate, find new information, socialize and much more. Its the event where you get to meet the team behind IndiBlogger and your other fellow bloggers from Mumbai whom you might not meet regularly.
